Ice guard



B. RODGES Sept. 22, 1964 ICE GUARD INVENTOR Filed July 18, 1962 Q [L Liam u ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,15%,684 Patented Sept. 22, 1964 3,150,084 HJE GUARD Bonnie Rodges, 1924 th St. NW., Washington, D.C. Filed July 18, 1362, Ser. No. 210,754 3 Claims. (El. 210-469) This invention relates to an ice guard, and has particular applicability to an ice guard adapted to be placed in a drinking glass to hold the ice, or any other solid or semisolid within the glass while an individual is drinking therefrom.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of an improved ice guard of this character which may be readily adapted to fit a wide variety of sizes and shapes of drinking glass.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is cut or formed from a single sheet of plastic or similar material, and which, in consequence, may be shipped in flat condition, thus saving labor and expense in packaging, storing, and shipping, and which may be individually assembled by the purchaser or user when desired.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is provided at one end with longitudinally or circumferentially extending elongated slots, and at the other end with tabs, which when engaged with the slots permit slidable expansion or contraction of the diameter of the device in order to accommodate it to various sizes of glasses.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a device which is made of normally resilient or semi-resilient material, so that it will automatically expand to the diameter of the glass in which it is inserted.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character provided with an integral hook, which may, if desired, be reinforced by a metal strip, for suspending the device from the edge of the glass, thus insuring proper positioning thereof.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is readily adapted to reuse, which is sturdy and durable in construction, which may be readily and easily assembled and disassembled, and which is simple, inexpensive, and rapidly manufactured.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more'fully pointed out hereinafter, and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the assembled device, shown in relation to a drinking glass, the latter being indicated in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the device is formed, or showing the device in unfolded or fiat condition.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the device, certain concealed parts being indicated in dotted lines, showing the assembly from the fiat condition, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the constructional detail.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the device of the instant invention is comprised of a single sheet of semi-resilient or resilient plastic, which may be either transparent, translucent, opaque, colored or plain, or suitably decorated or ornamented. This sheet, generally indicated at 16 comprises a semi-circular portion 11 which serves as the top of the guard, to which is secured an arcuate base portion 12, the top 11 being substantially centered with respect to the base 12. The arcuate ends 13 and 14 of portion 12 are adapted to be assembled in circular relation, with the top 11 folded downwardly, to provide the finished article as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

End portion 14 is provided with a pair of spaced parallel slots 15, from which material is removed so that the slots are of a width at least equal to or greater than the thickness of the base 12. Parallel slots l5 are connected at one end by a slot 16 which extends in substantially parallel relation to the end of portion 14..

The other end, 13, of the device is provided with a pair of tabs 17, which are formed by extending slots 18 cut from the top and bottom of end section 13, in substantial parallelism to the end thereof.

Top portion 11 is connected centrally to base 12, as previously described, and is provided with a pair of inwardly extending slots 19, which comprise a continuation of the arcuate top edge of member 12, and extend a substantial distance into the material of top 11, the slots being provided so that when the top portion 11 is folded downwardly at an angle, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the edges 11a thereof tend to arch downwardly, and the normal resiliency of the material serves to hold these edges against the cylindrical inner surface of the member 12 when assembled.

in a preferred form of the invention a series of circular openings Zil are formed in portion 12, and extend downwardly in a V shape into the body portion 12, and are arranged, as best shown in PEG. 1, to extend downwardly between the rim of the glass, and the fold line of top section 11, the fold line comprising a continuation of the slots 1?. A transversely elongated opening 21 is provided along this fold line, and a series of elongated radial apertures 22 are formed in the top ll, the arrangement being such that when the device is assembled and ready for use, liquid from the glass may pass through the openings 26, 21 and 22 to the rim of the glass to be readily taken into the mouth of the user, and the top portion ll, with its downwardly extended edges, resiliently bearing against the inner side of the member 12, will effectively retain any ice or other solid material, such as ice cream, sherbet, fruits, or other material customarily served in drinks, within the glass, thus preventing a sudden surge of such solid material out of the glass and the resultant spillage of the liquid contained therein.

In order to support the device from the edge of a glass 25 an extending tab 26 is formed on the top of one of the end portions 13 or 14 of body 12, in the illustrative embodiment on the portion 13, and provided with a reverted end 27 which extends outwardly and hooks over the rim of the glass 25. In order to retain this hook-shaped portion in proper alignment an outer metal reinforcing strip 23 may be secured to the outer surface thereof, thus retaining the resilient material in proper reverted relation for ready engagement with the rim of the glass.

From the foregoing the use and operation of the device should now be readily understandable. The device is preferably shipped in flat condition, or in the form of PEG. 2, and assembled either by the retailer, or the purchaser or ultimate user, preferably the latter. In assembly the top 11 is bent inwardly along the fold line formed by the slots 19 and elon ated opening 21, and the edges lla are bent downwardly or inwardly along lines formed by the terminal portions of slots 19. End portion 13 is then folded over end portion 34, and the tabs 1'7" inserted into the slots 15, it being noted that the slots 1% are of substantially the same depth as the distance between the slots 15 and the top and bottom of the body portion 12 or end 14. After the base 12 is formed in circular relation, the downward curvature of the edges 11a as compressed preclude the disengagement of the top from the circular member thus formed. The tabs 1'7 are expanded outwardly by the normal resiliency of the material, until they engage the ends of slots 15 as defined by slot 16, and the the material to expand the body portion to fit snugly within the interior of the glass. It is to be understood of course that the glass is previously filled with the liquid and ice or other material contained therein, and that after insertion of the ice guard of the instant invention the liquid may be drunk or sipped from the rim of the glass adjacent-the openings 20, 21 and 22-, while the top portion 11 securely retains the ice or other solid material within the glass, and prevents the spillage thereof, and consequent splashing of the liquid.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved ice guard, which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An ice guard for glasses formed from a single blank, comprised of a base portion formed with arcuate top and bottom edges, a substantially semi-circular top portion integral with the top edge at substantially the center thereof, the sides of the juncture of said top portion being cut to form slots extending partially through said juncture and extending inwardly from opposite sides thereof, the portion of said base on one side of said top being formed with a pair of arcuate slots in conformity to the top and bottom edges and connected adjacent the end of said portion on one side'of said top by a slot extending parallel to the end of said portion on one side, the portion of said base on the other side of said top having slots therein extending from the top and bottom thereof of a depth substantially equal to the distance of said arcuate slots from the top and bottom of said base, forming end tabs, which when said other end overlaps said one end, slidably engage in said arcuate slots to secure said base in tubular form of variable diameter, said semi-circular top portion having openings therein permitting the passage of fluid therethrough. v

2. An ice guard for glasses formed from a single blank, comprised of a base portion formed with arcuate top and bottom edges, a substantially semi-circular top portion integral with the top edge at substantially the center thereof,

the sides of the juncture of said top portion being cut to form slots extending partially through said juncture and extending inwardly from opposite sides thereof, the portion of said base on one side of said top being formed-with a pair of arcuate slots in conformity to the top and bottom edges and connected adjacent the end of said portion on one side of said top by aslotextending parallel to the end of said portion on one side, the portion of said base on the other side of said top having slots therein extending from the top and bottom thereof of a depth substantially equal to the distance of said arcuate slots from the top and bottom of said base, forming end tabs, which when said other end overlaps said one end, slidablyengage in said arcuate slots to secure said base in tubular form of variable diameter, said semi-circular top-portion having openings therein permitting the passage, of fluid therethrough, and an integral tab extending from the top edge.

comprised of a base portion formed with arcuate top andbottom edges, a substantially semi-circular top portion integral with the top edge at substantially the center thereof, the sides of the juncture of said top portion being cut to form slots extending partially through said juncture and extending inwardly from opposite sides thereof, the portionof said base on one. side of said top being formed with a pair of arcuate slots in conformity to the top and bottom edges .andconnected adjacent the end of said portion on one side of said top by a slot extending parallel to the end of said portion on one side, the portion of said base on the other side of said top having slots therein extending from the top and bottom thereof of a depth substantially equal to the distance of said arcuate slots from the top and bottom of said base, formingend tabs, which when said other end overlaps said one end, slidably engage in said arcuate slots to secure said-base in tubular form of variable diameter, said semi-circular top portion having openings therein permitting the passage of fluid therethrough, certain of said openings being formed as elongated radial slots in said top portion, another comprising an elongated slot aligned with the slots at the juncture of said base portion and said top portion, and additional openings being formed in said base adjacent its juncture with said top.

References Cited in the file of this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. AN ICE GUARD FOR GLASSES FORMED FROM A SINGLE BLANK, COMPRISED OF A BASE PORTION FORMED WITH ARCUATE TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES, A SUBSTANTIALLY SEMI-CIRCULAR TOP PORTION INTEGRAL WITH THE TOP EDGE AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE CENTER THEREOF, THE SIDES OF THE JUNCTURE OF SAID TOP PORTION BEING CUT TO FORM SLOTS EXTENDING PARTIALLY THROUGH SAID JUNCTURE AND EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, THE PORTION OF SAID BASE ON ONE SIDE OF SAID TOP BEING FORMED WITH A PAIR OF ARCUATE SLOTS IN CONFORMITY TO THE TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES AND CONNECTED ADJACENT THE END OF SAID PORTION ON ONE SIDE OF SAID TOP BY A SLOT EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE END OF SAID PORTION ON ONE SIDE, THE PORTION OF SAID BASE ON 